Balthazar casts detect magic and looks around.

Several shelves around the library begin to glow under the influence of Balthazar's spell. This makes finding the enchanted tomes much easier for those looking.

I am assuming that the group will be collecting these titles. Cuivi volunteers to sort through the titles as they are gathered. He sets them out alphabetically on a table for all to peruse.

Book of Exalted Deeds
Book of infinite spells
Book of Vile Darkness
Libram of Gainful Conjuration
Libram of Ineffable Damnation
Libram of Silver Magic
Manual of Bodily Health
Manual of Gainful Exercise
Manual of Golems
Manual pf Puissant Skill at Arms
Manual of Quickness in Action
Manual of Stealthy Pilfering
Tome of Clear Thought
Tome of Leadership and Influence
Tome of Understanding

This is really a Monty Haul sort of treasure but whatever...happy thanksgiving:)

Wow!  Okay, let me go through this carefully.

Book of Exalted Deeds - +1 wisdom and +1 level to good clerics, definitely for Cuivi.
Book of Infinite Spells - Anyone can benefit; Balthazar would benefit the most
Book of Vile Darkness - +1 wisdom and +1 level to evil clerics.  We don't have a use for this.
Libram of Gainful Conjuration - +1 level to neutral magic-users and illusionists.  I'm assuming Dyanna is neutral, so this is for her
Libram of Ineffable Damnation - +1 level to evil magic-users.  We don't have a use for this.
Libram of Silver Magic - +1 level to good magic-users and illusionists.  Hopefully this is for Balthazar
Manual of Bodily Health - +1 con
Manual of Gainful Exercise - +1 str
Manual of Golems - DM needs to roll to determine whch type of Manual is found, unless he wants one of each to be found ;)
Manual pf Puissant Skill at Arms - +1 level to fighters (but not rangers or paladins)
Manual of Quickness in Action - +1 dex
Manual of Stealthy Pilfering - +1 level to thieves, +5000 xp to assassins
Tome of Clear Thought - +1 int
Tome of Leadership and Influence - +1 charisma
Tome of Understanding - +1 wis

Balthazar also inquires of Apollonius if any "regular" spell books are present.

DM: Regarding the books that put you up a level and the xp we still have yet to be awarded; will the xp be awarded BEFORE or AFTER the books are read?

Balthazar also asks the party if anyone has a portable hole - I vaguely recall us getting one at one point, but maybe I'm misremembering.  Portable holes are perfect for transporting golems around.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Thu 24 Nov 2011.

Actually for Balthazar the question is irrelevant, because he will try to achieve level 9 by normal means first.  XP from 8 to 9 is paltry compared to how steep it gets after that.

When Cuivi lays out the books Loukas is impressed. "Your collection is indeed impressive, Apollonius. You do us a great kindness in permitting us to sharing them with us. Have you read all of them yourself?"

OOC: So, is this a one use for the party sorta deal or a one use per character? If it's the former, we're going to be here for a while! ;) If it's the latter, here are the books Loukas would like to read in order of interest:

Manual of Quickness in Action - +1 dex
Manual of Bodily Health - +1 con
Tome of Leadership and Influence - +1 charisma
Tome of Understanding - +1 wis
Manual of Gainful Exercise - +1 str
Tome of Clear Thought - +1 int
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Thu 24 Nov 2011.

Manual pf Puissant Skill at Arms - +1 level to fighters - unless we have to read the books while in the library, I agree w/ Balthazar here.  I'd just as soon wait to achieve next level before reading as the jump in XP is significant.

"Gah!" grouses A'kos, looking at the assembled tomes.  "Study!  'Tis no endeavor for a man of action."

Still, no fool is he.  Grabbing the first manual applicable to him he reads the back cover to see what it's about, then brings it to the counter to check out.

"Likely we'll be here awhile if everyone starts reading the various tomes," he notes.

OOC: edited for clarification...
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Thu 24 Nov 2011.

All of the books vanish after being read, except the Manual of Golems which must be burned and its ashes sprinkled over the golem in order to bring it to life.  So ... we really do have to decide who gets to read what.

In reply to Balthazar the Hedonite (msg #155):

Ah! So, everyone put in their interests by order of interest and we'll rely on Miroslav to place final bets/judgments. Since all of this is "extra" I'm happy with whatever I get!

OOC: Edited the above post.  I'd (somewhat obviously) like the Skill at Arms manual first, strength second, Constitution third...fwiw.

OOC: Are we all getting to select magic tomes?

Yes, let us know which ones you want in preference order.  I think you might be in a contest with Heinrich over the one that boosts thief level, and the one that boosts dex with Loukas.

I'm waiting to hear from Dyanna about the m-u tomes; I think she's played her character as neutral but she'll let us know :)  I'm also waiting to hear from the DM about the Manual of Golems.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Fri 25 Nov 2011.

Strength, followed by constitution followed by Charisma would be my next three choices.  fyi.

It would make this simpler if everyone did as Balthazar and I have done and posted the titles they want to read in order of interest. Then we can put them all side by side and figure things out from there. Once we know who's interested in what we can each negotiate with whomever we've shared interests about who gets what.

Barmak is in no hurry to peruse any of the books. He would like to, of course, but figures that others might profit more than he. On the other hand, he is thinking of how the evil tomes might be destroyed.

Heinrich enters the library, staying alert. When the magic books are presented, he will mention interest in the Manuals of Quickness in Action and Stealthy Pilfering.

When there is a gap in the conversation, he'll look at Apollonius and say, "I could give you some information on events in what is now called the Holy Roman Empire, if you are interested."


OOC: So here's my book order:
1.Quickness in Action +1 Dex
2. Clear Thought +1 Int
3. Bodily Health +1 Con
4. Stealthy Pilfering
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Fri 25 Nov 2011.

No offense, but I think Nestor can read and react accordingly.  However my last two posts are pretty clear on the subject. Choice 1 - bring manual with me to level up at an opportune time 2 - str 3 - const 4 - charisma.

On the other hand now we've got the treasure division thread in the main storyline which should be fun for everyone to read through.

;)

I'm not sure what type of book works with assassins, but whatever it is, I'd like that and one for dex.

Miroslav looks at the pile of books before him for a moment..."Some of these are fairly clear to me."

He takes the Book of Exalted deeds and hands it to Cuivi..."Use it well my friend."

He snatches up the Book of Infinite Spells, Libram of Silver Magic and the Manual of Golems(clay...here comes Cassius)and hands them to Balthazar. "I trust these will not be wasted on you."

He gives the Libram of Gainful Conjuration to the oddly silent Dyanna.

He then turns to A'Kos and says..."I have been sore tempted to keep this for myself but have decided it wiser to give to you." He handsthe Manual of Puissant Skill at Arms to the Magyar.

To Jaleh he give the Manual of Quickness in Action..."You were already as agile as a cat, now you may be more so."

He looks to Barmak. With a smile he hands him the Manual of Stealthy Pilfering "You have earned this my friend."

To Loukas he hands the Manual of Bodily Health and the Tome of Leadership and Influence. "I trust you to use them in service of Veles my friend."

To Heinrich he hands the Tome of Clear Thought..."You are new to us. Don't make me regret this gift." He says with a smile.

Lastly he turns to Ulfr(who has a player behind him shortly) and hands the big man the Manual of Gainful Exercise..."This should gain you your own oar on the ship!"

"I will take the last book for myself. I need to be a little wiser."

Apollonius answers Balthazar regarding the spell books..."Yes, I have 7 spell books in a special room of the library that you may peruse."

"Thank you." Jaleh said to Miroslav as she accented the manual. "Do we have time to read these now, like in here, or should we save them for later?"

Loukas turns to Jaleh, "Our host has generously offered us food in addition to time in his library. It seems as if we would be rude not to spend some time not only at study, but bringing him up to date on the world he has missed."

Picking up the two tomes Miroslav assigned him, "For myself, since teacher has assigned homework, I shall do better than I did as a boy and get to it directly. Perhaps, when we meet for our next meal I might continue the tales of The Company of the Heart of Oak?"

Barmak opens his backpack to produce two sacks. Without touching them, he eases the Book of Vile Darkness and the Libram of Ineffable Damnation into one. Then he puts that sack into the other and ties the second sch shut. If nobody minds, I wish to take these with us. He looks at the Manual. Thank you. Looks like a lot of studying to me. I suggest we work through them later. I seem to have a poor memory. For what reason have we come here? ... though meeting our gracious host has been more than we would expect.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Fri 02 Dec 2011.

Loukas looks skeptical when Barmak takes the two books, "Those might be safer here, my friend... I would rather let any who would use them find their way here on their own. I understand your trader's instincts, but some sales have a way of biting back.

"Otherwise, we've no reason to rush out of here. We've generous host and for my part, and I suspect that Balthazar and Dyanna, of nobody else, would agree with me,there is much useful knowledge here and it may be a long time before we're able to return."

Trade? An interesting idea. Here's another: To trust or not to trust when you know less than you would, perhaps like.

In reply to Loukas Ouranus (msg #169):

"Oh, I'm sorry, I missed that part." Jaleh explained a bit embarrassed.